A portion of a peace plan intended to smooth the way for an exit from
Afghanistan of U.S.-led military forces already is in trouble, before
it has even gotten underway.At issue is a conference between Pakistani and Afghan
religious leaders scheduled for next month in Kabul, the Afghan capital,
that was intended to provide religious support for efforts to resolve
the war in Afghanistan. But the Pakistani clerics are refusing to
participate unless the Taliban are included, something that would be
impossible in Afghanistan. The Pakistanis also said they were unwilling
to participate in any conference if it could be seen as an endorsement
of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.An emergency meeting Monday in Islamabad between Pakistani and Afghan delegations seemed to make no progress.“How come people can talk to the Taliban all over the world but
not in Kabul?” asked Tahir Ashrafi, chairman of the Pakistan Ulema
Council, a leading organization of Pakistani clerics, who was seen as a
possible leader of the Pakistani side of the conference. “We support
peace talks. But if we are to discuss peace, then how can you leave out
one of the parties to the war?”The proposed conference was
announced last month at a meeting in Great Britain between Karzai and
Pakistani President Asif Zardari, hosted by British Prime Minister David
Cameron.With virtually no chance that the Taliban will be
defeated on the battlefield, a peace deal with the insurgents is
considered the most hopeful way of avoiding Afghanistan sinking into
chaos as the American-led coalition force leaves next year. Washington
is eagerly supporting the peace process.

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The Trench monitors information battlegrounds from their front to rear lines, providing political and military analysis on a near daily basis. The Trench seeks to stay ahead of mainstream media during geopolitical events, and offers independent reporting on the world’s asymmetric conflicts.

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James Gundun is a political scientist and counterinsurgency analyst based in Washington D.C.*All analysis is original unless otherwise noted.*